The EIU view

Political stability has improved since the appointment of a new cabinet in April 2018, but the situation will remain volatile ahead of the presidential election, due before the end of 2019. A weak opposition means that the ruling Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde should fare well at both polls, although the party remains divided, which will hamper governability. Real GDP growth will remain around 5% in 2019-20.

CFA franc (CFAfr), the common currency of the Union ¨¦conomique et mon¨¦taire ouest-africaine (UEMOA); tied to the euro at a fixed exchange rate of CFAfr655.957:€1; the CFA franc replaced the peso in May 1997 at an exchange rate of P65:CFAfr1

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

January 1st; January 20th (Heroes' Day); March 8th (Women's Day); May 1st; June 15th 2018 (Eid al-Fitr); August 3rd (start of anti-colonial struggle); August 21st 2018 (Eid al-Adha); September 24th (Independence Day); November 14th (commemorating the 1980 coup); December 25th